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Typical farm pig - Gloucester Old Spot

Katie Price receiving micro pig at her wedding

Pictured is a large pig misold as a micro

Look to spend time bonding with your pig

Micro pig keeping warm sleeping alongside dog

Micro pig basking in the sun with a tortoise

Micro pig sharing a house with two pygmy goats

Examples of an outside pen using a wendy house

Stable door effect on shed in background

Micro pig housed indoors enjoying a nap

With a harness on after returning from a walk

Pregnant adult micro pig from Pint Size Pigs

Adult micro pig from Pint Size Pigs again in pig

Welcome to Pint Size Pigs a UK breeder of Micro Pigs

Micro Pigs for sale from Pint Size Pigs. Based in Crickhowell a small town in South Wales. We have a great selection of Micro Pet Pigs for sale in the UK. We supply and deliver our pigs throughout the UK. Crickhowell is situated in the beautiful Usk Valley, part of the Brecon Beacons National park. We are just 2hrs from London and 2hrs 30mins from Liverpool. We breed some of the very best pigs available in the UK!

Find us on... Tiwtter/Instagram and we have our own YouTube page @PintSizePigs/PintSizePigs

Micro Pigs - Micro Pig Information

Description

Micro Pigs are in fact a mixture of breeds, bred with the intention of staying small. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the government department for environmental protection. They define micro pigs as “pigs that have been developed through selective breeding to create a pig that is smaller than those produced for commercial pig keeping”. They are ultimately ‘miniature’ pigs, created from a mixture of different pig breeds.

Tea Cup Pigs, Micro Mini pigs

Tea Cup Pigs, Micro Mini, Pygmy Pigs, and Pint Size Pigs are in fact Micro Pigs however these are other names that have been used to describe and publicize these miniature pigs. Due to the mixture of breeds, size’s and characteristics can often vary somewhat, this is true too for different breeders who will be using different mixtures and ultimately different size stock to form the offspring they breed and sell.

History

The foundation of these original miniature pigs were formed post 1950’s for the purposes of medical research. Why? Well because they have many biological similarities to humans, beyond the fact they are mammals; which make them useful in many fields of research, they are intelligent too, and the reduction of size enabled them to be handled, housed and managed easier.

During the 1980’s despite averaging weights of up to 165 pounds, there was a surge in popularity of pot-bellied pigs being kept as pets, with people keeping them both indoors and out. This was in part due to their relatively smaller statue and friendly docile nature. It’s tangible to say that this popularity influenced the specific breeding of pigs to become smaller for the purposes of pets (in contrast to that of meat rearing pigs where the sole purpose is to breed big pigs).

Popularity

The popularity of micro pigs came to prominence through tabloid headlines speculating over certain celebrities choosing these pigs as their choice of pet. Those reported to be keeping these pigs are George Clooney, Paris Hilton, Claudia Shiffer, David & Victoria Beckham, Jonathan Ross and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint. Katie Price even received one as a wedding gift at her actual wedding to Alex Reid.

Micro Pigs within the media

The modern day micro pig has featured heavily within all forms of the media. Often cute images of newly born piglets with the intention of capturing people’s attention form the basis of the story. Unfortunately with these stories; adult sizes and the specific requirements for keeping these pigs is often lost somewhat within the story and appears of secondary importance. This form of sensational reporting has helped create both the hype and hysteria regarding these pigs. Despite this, the general consensus of breeders out there, are consistent in the information they provide.

It must also be said that there has undeniably been pigs sold under false pretences, pigs marketed to be small pigs when they simply weren’t, and weren’t ever going to be, so the warnings are there for buyers to use a reputable breeder. Illustrated so clearly in the image adjacent.

Micro Pigs as pets

Micro pigs can make great pets, due to their size and cheeky, mischievous nature. They are intelligent, hardy animals that can be easily trained, they don’t shed (suiting people with allergies) and they keep themselves clean. Whilst they can initially be somewhat skittish and nervous this is quickly and easily overcome with time spent handling them and earning their trust. Look to bond with your piglet (s) as much as you can, have them on your lap so they can snuggle up to you, or go lie in the straw with them and spend time tickling their bellies and stroking their head. Once trust is achieved they will love you unconditionally, seeking out your affection and attention.

Companionship

They are ultimately herd animals and really do benefit from the companionship of other animals and especially pigs. Our advice would always be to consider keeping a pair together in an outside pen. Despite this if intending to keep a pig as an indoor pet; then singularly is possibly a better option, only however; if someone is home the majority of the day to provide the necessary companionship and social element they strive. We are often asked what pigs are like with other animals; pigs are highly intellectual and it is quite extraordinary observing a piglet coexisting with other animals and the bond they are able to share. We hear first hand about so many stories where a piglet has befriended a dog, following them around and sleeping together; as well as similar stories involving chickens and to an even, bizarre and unusual one of our own a tortoise. You will just need to be cautious when introducing them as you would, when introducing any new pet to another.

Housing

Despite their reduction in size, pigs are possibly best suited to being housed outside with constant access to the outside space so that they can bask in the sunshine, play in the dirt, root and toilet as they please. Pigs are instinctively very clean animals and will always look to toilet away from their bedding as long as they have access to the outside space to do it. All our pigs are housed outside in a secured pen containing woodchip, grass or soil.

We have one or two that we have handled and given the freedom of being allowed out and they have really responded to it; often wandering out at they're own leisure and making they're way down to the back of the house where they know they have been given treats and some of their meals. This works really well and we will often show potential customers this and encourage them to do the same.

We recommend a small Wendy house or shed with plenty of fresh straw to house the pigs. On the Wendy house you can fit a latch onto the door, enabling the pigs access to come in and out. This will also work to minimize potential rain getting in as well as cold drafts. Another option is to incorporate a stable door effect, leaving just the bottom half open which allows the pigs the independence of being in and out when they please. A nice thick covering of woodchip within the penned area will allow your pigs to root without causing damage to any lawned area, it also looks nice, in keeping with any garden and will provide natural drainage from the rain and keep everything clean and tidy - even your pigs :)

If kept as an indoor pet, they will require a large dog cage as their permanent sleeping space and some blankets or quilts. Someone should also be home with them during the majority of the day. They can really thrive in this environment if you have the time, effort and dedication to give them. Micro pigs are very intelligent animals and similarly to dogs will take a great deal of stimulation and comfort from toys and human contact. They can be quickly litter trained, or taught to toilet outside. People have even taught their pigs commands such as sit, fetch and stand. All of which are easily achieved with the use and gentle persuasion of grapes and raisins for rewards. The more you interact with them, the more enjoyable it will be for the both of you. As indoor pets and similar to puppies/dogs if left alone to their own devices for long periods, they could become destructive through boredom.

Diet

If conditions permitted, domesticated pigs would feed continuously so it’s particularly important to control what they eat and keep an eye on their weight. Avoid over feeding, not to stunt growth but to prevent significantly large weight gains that will reflect a much heavier and all round bigger pig. The size of your pig is determined by two things, nutrition and genetics. You cannot change the genetics of your pig by depriving it of adequate nourishment, however you can cause a genetically small pig to grow excessively (something all to apparant in the majority of media stories).

We feed our pigs on non-fattening sow nuts, which has the correct balance of vitamins and minerals for your piglet, alternatively sow & weaner nuts or pot bellied pig food. All are available from your local agricultural merchants. This will cost you around £7 for a 20kg sack. Feed your piglet both in the morning and then the afternoon, a small handful is sufficient.

A fully-grown micro will require 1/2 a dog sized food bowl twice a day.You can supplement their feeds with fruit and vegetables, bread or anything that is non-fattening and low in salt; however it is extremely important that you don't allow them to have any meat or meat based products (this is illegal). They will also require access to fresh clean water throughout the day.

It is illegal to feed your pig with waste food and scraps from your own kitchen (as contaminated waste foods can spread viruses and bacteria to livestock) as is the feeding of other materials of animal origin, or products containing them to farmed animals. The first case of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak was found at a farm where unprocessed waste food was being fed to pigs.

Size & Lifespan

How big do micro pigs grow; this will vary somewhat from one breeder to the next due to the differences explained above, however ours are approximately 14-20 inches in height or a phrase we will often use welly to knee height. They can weigh between 20-30 kg if a healthy balanced diet is maintained. Reaching adult sizes within 9-12 months, with a life span of 10-15 years.

*For peace of mind we provide a sales contract to all our customers bounding us to size.*

Vaccinations

Your piglet will be vaccinated using Panomec (Ivermectin) for the treatment of internal and external parasites prior to leaving us. This will cover the pigs for up to a year; however can be administered as often as every 6 months should you wish. This can also be administered in the form of a medicated feed. To do it this way you will need to organise a prescription through your vet, and then purchase the feed through your feed supplier.

Cost

How much do micro pigs cost? £450-550 each from a reputable breeder, on par with pedigree dogs. Cheaper prices usually signify much bigger pigs.

CPH Number

What is a CPH Number and why do I need it? This is a County Parish Holding Number; it is a nine-digit code, which identifies the premises or land where your pigs will eventually be kept - required in case of a disease outbreak. To apply for a CPH number you will need to contact the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on 0845 6037777 or if residing in Wales & Scotland contact the Animal Health Department at your local County Council. This can take a few weeks to process so it's best to do it straight away; and there is currently no cost for this.

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We kindly ask that you gather as much information as you possibly can to help decide if a micro pig is the right choice of pet for you. Our website is designed to hopefully provide you with the answers to the questions you might have about these lovely animals; so that you can make an informed decision as to whether they are the right choice of pet for you and your circumstances. It is vitally important to us here at Pint Sized Pigs that our pigs get the very best of forever homes!